The LeanScaper Podcast Your Business Is a Waste Factory, Lean Fixes That w/ Tom Hughes
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Jul 16, 2025 In this enlightening discussion, Tom Hughes, a lean principles expert and creator of GembaDocs, dives into the essence of Lean thinking and its vital role for landscapers. He reveals how Lean emerged from the need to survive and emphasizes the critical importance of identifying and eliminating waste in operations. Tom shares insights on the seven types of waste, how landscapers often unknowingly lose time and money, and why killing waste—not enhancing value—is essential for scaling. His favorite line? "Comfort is the enemy of innovation."
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Lean Originates from Necessity
- Lean was born from necessity in post-WWII Japan, where resources were limited and competition intense.
- Toyota developed Lean to use cash effectively, reduce inventory, and improve quality under tough circumstances.
Discomfort Sparks Innovation
- Comfort in business is the enemy of innovation and change.
- You must be dissatisfied and uncomfortable to start a Lean transformation.
Value Means Customer-Paid Change
- Value in Lean is what the customer is willing to pay for and when a product physically changes.
- The vast majority of work (98%) is waste, not value-added activity.
